Hoxie School benefits
from Hibbetts program

Hoxie High School students Tyler Clement (left) and Seth Williams open their gift bags after the assembly. Each student in eighth through 12th grades received a gift bag containing more than $50 in products.

Shantelle Prater
Staff Writer

Hibbett Sports Goods, Inc., partnered with sporting vendors to provide more than $20,000 in sporting equipment to Hoxie High School as part of their Hibbett Sports Operation Sports Renovation program.

The program provides assistance to schools in need of restoring their athletic facilities. More than 300 schools applied for the contest this year. Only two schools are awarded yearly.

The school was selected based on an essay submitted by Serena Wilson, reading recovery teacher at Hoxie Elementary. Wilson submitted an essay on why Hoxie High School was deserving of the award.

Wilson's sons, Kyle, 15, Kaelin, 13, and Keifer, 10, participate in the athletic program at Hoxie School and are involved in football, basketball, track and baseball.

"We are extremely grateful for Hibbetts and what they have donated to us," said head football coach Tom Sears, who also serves as athletic director. "It will be fantastic for the kids."

Items including weight room equipment, practice jerseys, travel bags, shoes, bats and balls were among the items donated to the school, which were presented to the school during an assembly on Monday at the school's gymnasium.

During the event, students in eighth through 12th grades received goody bags from the company, each containing an Under Armour bag, sports towel, Speedo googles, water bottle and lip balm. Each goody bag contained more than $50 worth of products.

T-shirt design contest winners Chloe Foely and Cheyenne Hatfield were also recognized during the ceremony. Both winners received a prize and T-shirts were given to all seventh-grade students.

Winners of the elementary school baseball pennant coloring contest were also announced. One child was chosen from each classroom, and each received a gift.